Atomizing nozzle



Dm., M, E953 F, KURATA 2,577,853

ATOMIZING NozzLE original Filed may 2, 1944 FRED KURATA Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE ATOMIZIN G NOZZLE Fred Kurata, Lawrence, Kans., assignor to Kask Technical Corporation, Jackson Heights, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application May 2, 1944, Serial No. 533,720. Divided and this application May 19, 1948, Serial No. 27,924

Claims.

' now abandoned, in which automatic vibration of a valve member caus-es atomization of the liquid issuing from the nozzle.

In the commercial atomizing nozzles on the market today in which pressure aloneY is employed as the atomizing force as -contrasted with those in which a gas under pressure is used as the propelling and disruptive agency, the atomization of the liquid is produced by subjecting it to a whirling action before ejecting it from an oriflce of the desired shape and size. The whirling motion is imparted to the liquid vby passing it under pressure through a chamber 0f special construction. All of the nozzles of this type are inherently inefcient because of the pressure drop caused by the absorption of energy as fluid friction when the liquid traverses the nozzle chamber.

It is an object of the present invention to produce an atomizing nozzle of a design radically different from that discussed above in which energyl losses due to fluid friction are in a large part eliminated.

Itis a further object of this invention to produce an atomizing nozzle in which a much lower fluid pressure is required to obtain a certain degree of atomization than is the case with the presently-known types of atomizing nozzles.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an atomizing nozzle of a construction which brings about a more elicient atomization of liquids than those presently in use.

It is a still further object of the present invention to produce an atomizing nozzle in which the degree of atomization of the liquid can be readily Varied within wide limits.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction With the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of -the invention inwhich rapid vibration of a valve member of a nozzle is produced by a positively acting external force: and v Y Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of amodiflcation of the device illustrated in Figure 1.

According to Figure 1 of the drawing, numeral llgenerally denotes the body structure of the device on this invention including both the structure enclosing a vibration producing means and the structure enclosing the nozzle proper. The portion containing the electric vibration producing means, whose specific structure will be fully described hereinafter, consists of a circular casing 2| having threaded boss portion 22 at one end and a flange 24 at the other. A cover member 23 is secured to flange 24 by any suitable means and sald cover member 23 has an aperture 25 located at its center. l

The threaded boss portion 22 of the casing member 2l is received in a threaded counteroore 2c at the upper end of the structure 2l forming the body portion ol' the nozzle proper. A flexible diaphragm 28 is positioned on the shoulder of the counterbore 2B of the body portion 2l and is held lirrnly in place by the boss portion 22. Diaphragm 2d serves to separate tne nozzle section from the vibration producing means. The body portion 2l of the nozzle contains a chamber 29 which is preferably of circular cross-section and which narrows to a discharge orice 30 of a smaller dimension. Liquid under pressure is supplied to the chamber 2u by means of a conduit 3l entering the side thereof and connected thereto by suitable means, for example by threading as shown in the drawing, and communicating with any suitable pressure source. The liquid under pressure is prevented from reaching the vibration producing portion of the structure by diajl phragm 28.

' z 34 or' such dimension that there is suicient clearance between said stem 34 and the Walls of the discharge ori-ce 3i] that liquid will be readily discharged. The enlarged head portion 33 of the valve member 32 is normally seated upon the outer edge of the discharge orifice 3U.

The force with which the valve member 32 is seated may be controlled by a coil spring 35 one end of which bears against a recess 36 in the body portion 2l of the nozzle and the other end of which bears against the underside of an adjustable nut 3l upon a threaded end 38 of the valve stem 34. v

Valve stem 34 projects through an aperture 39 in the flexible diaphragm 28. The nozzle side of the flexible diaphragm 28 rests upon a Washer adjacent a nut 40 positioned on the threaded end 38 of the valve stem 34.

Now referring with particularity to the electromagnetic vibration producing means, numeral 4I held tightly against the Washer of nut 40. An up Y per axial extension 45 of core 43 of relatively small Y circular cross-section projects through the aper ture 25 in the cover member 23. The coil 43 is provided with terminals 46 and 41.

In the operation of the device' of-the-invention,L

terminals 46 and 4l of coil 4| will be connectento a source of alternating current ora Ipulsating direct current, the frequencyv of which def-* termine the frequency of the vibration of the valve member 32. Y *l l If alternating current is used, the frequer'cyof vibration of valve member 32 will be twice that frequencyy of' the" alternating current usedy as. a. downward forcewill'be-eXertedion the core' member 43' during eachA h'a-lfA cycle of curren-tilow.v

When the current passes throughzero, core 43. is iorc'edupwardly by' the force of spring'35g'lay thetendency of theflexible diaphragm.- 28 to return to' a normal position and, if the surface ofthe underside of" the diaphragm 28vpresented to the pressure' of the liquid-- in* chamber 29 is greater than the surface presented byr head 33y of valve member 32, by the fluid`Y pressure, itself. This action closesand opens the valve for eachhali` cycle of' current.

When direct current is employed, the frequency of vibration will, of course, be equal to the frequency of the current. l Upon each-pu-lsation the valve head 33 will be liftedl from` itsV seat on theedge' of orifice 30, and upon` each cessation of current' flow Valve head 33A will be reseated by the forcesV described above.

Figure 2 of the drawing illustrates a modification of the device illustrated in Figure 1, which is designed to operate only with a source of direct current. The general structure of the modifica-- tion maybe the same as that ofA thedevice described in connection with Figure 1 of the drawing and', therefore; a detailed descriptiony will' not be necessary.

In the modicat'ion of Figure 2 a contact point 48 is attached to upper extension 45 or coremem-Y ber 43. A contact point 49 is positioned" by a spring contactV arm 50 directly above contact point 48 so that po'in't's 49 and 50 will meet when the valve member 32 is seated. Contact arm 50' is maintained in position byl being 'bolted' to a member l of insulating material which isv in turn rigidly fastened to cover' member 23' by screw 52. A source of direct current 53 is con,- nected to the spring contact tillv and one terminal' 4T of th'e c'oil. The other terminal 46 of the coil is connected with the cover' member' 23'.

In operation wheneverV the contact points' 48 and 49 meet, the coil 4I is energised andV the core 43' is pulledY down unseating the headv of valve member 32 and opening the circuit. The valve is then reseated by the forces described in connection with theembodiment of the invention illustrated by Figure 1 of the drawing and the operation repeated. In this modification, the frequency will be controlled by the strength of the current source 53, themass of the moving parts, and thel magnitude of the forces tending to reseat the valve head 33 of valve member 32.

In both of the above described embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 of the invention, it is inevitable that a certain degree of erosion will occur in the valve and the seat because of vibration. Therefore, if the parts are constructed of relatively soft material it is necessary that inserts or harder material be employed in connection with these However-it into bev understood that the various materials used form no part of this invention, and in every case any suitable material may be selected.

It is to be understood that the essence of the present-invention is? the employment of a vibratirig memberforA atomization of a liquid, and it is realized that' there are many available ways other than thosefspecifically disclosed herein for bringing aboutthis desired result.

Having. described my invention, I claim:

1. An atomizing nozzle comprising a body portion' having a chamber within said body portion and an outlet orifice of smaller cross-section havinganedgedl satontheouter sidewith'l relation to said chamber',- theedged seatA o! said outletoriflce being substantially flushwith said body portion, a ilexible diaphragm positioned insaid chamber and fixed toJ said body portion and separating said cham-ber into a nozzle portion including said oricel and a housing portion for avibration producing means, a va-lvemember positioned within said nozzle portion projecting through said# diaphragmL andi having a conically shapedhead concentrically seated onthe outer edge ofsaid orifice, said valve member being adapted to freely vibrate substantially free froml friction, a 4 spring positioned. within said nozzlel porttion of said chamber urgingn the-head oi!v said valve member against thel edged seat of said oriiice, a` solenoid core positioned within said housing portion and connected tosaldvalve member, and arr electrica-l5 coil surrounding one end of said core andr connected to a source of pulsating current, said pulsating current causing movement of saidcore'so' as torapidly vibratel said valvemexn-be'r.

2. The' nozzle of claim lJ in which said source or pulsating current is' a source of alternating current.

3. Thenozzle of claim L in whichy said source of pulsating current is a source of direct current.-

4.- An atomizing nozzle comprising a body portion having" a' chamber within said'V body portion and'l an outlet` orifice having anedged seat on the outer side with relation tosa-id chamber, the edged seat' of s a'id outlet orice being substan tially` flush with saidl body portion, a ilexible diaphragmY 1`aositione`d` within' saidl chamber and separating saidi chamber into anozzlev portion' including sa-i'd'ordflce and a housing portion for' a vibration producing means, a valvemember `positi'or'ied within said* nozzle portion projecting through said diaphragm andV having a conically shaped head concentrically sea-ted ori the outer edgeL of saidorifice, said v'a-Ive member being axi'aptedto freely vibrate substantially free iromfriction,` a spring positioned within said nozzle portion of said chamber urging the head of saidv valve member againstthe edged seat of said oriiice; an electrical coi-l' having two terminals' positioned within said housing portion, a solenoid core attached to said valve member and having one end positioned within sa-id coil, a xed contacta-rm positionedv directly above the unattached end of said solenoid core contacting said' core whenthe-headf of said valve member is seated in said orifice', one of said terminals ot said elec# trice-l coil connected to iaidrbod'y portion, anniI l 5 source of direct current connected to the other terminal of said electrical coil and to said contact arm whereby said valve member is maintained in rapid vibration to cause atomization of a liquid fed to Said nozzle.

5. An atomizing nozzle comprising a body portion having a chamber for holding liquid to be atomized and an outlet orice of smaller crosssection for the passage of liquid from said chamber, said outlet orice having an edged seat on the downstream side substantially flush with said body portion, means for connecting said chamber with a conduit transmitting liquid, a exible diaphragm positioned within said chamber and separating said chamber into a. nozzle portion including said orifice and a housing portion for a Vibration producing means, a valve member concentrically seated in said edged seat of said outlet orice, said valve member being adapted to freely move in a direction substantially perpendicular to said orifice, a spring positioned in said nozzle portion for urging said valve member against said edged seat of said outlet REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 640,878 Curley Jan. 9, 1900 936,074 Annable Oct. 5, 1909 1,051,350 Nogier Jan. 21, 1913 1,271,670 Conrad July 9, 1918 1,284,021 Wright Nov. 5, 1918 1,323,778 Lemp Dec. 2, 1919 1,737,155 Hewitt Nov. 26, 1929 1,970,546 Clapper Aug. 21, 1934 2,003,827 Esterling June 4, 1935 2,121,321 Kronmiller June 21, 1938 2,413,655 Russel Dec. 31, 1946 

